Feeler mechanism for looms



Feb. 2U, 1923.. 4 E. S. STIMPSON.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

2 SHEETSSHEET x.

FiLED FEB. 25, I922.

Feb. 2@, 19230 1,445,649.,

E. S. STHVIPSON.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

FILED FEB. 25. 1922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mnmml umnunlwmwW Patented Teb. EU, lfifid,

EDWARD S. STIMPSON, 01E HOJPEDALE, MASSAGHUSJETTS, ASSIGNOR T DRAWER GUM DURATION, OF HOJPJEDALJE, MASSACHULSJETTS, A. CURJPORATION 91E JFIEJELJER MECHANISM 130R LOOMS.

application filed February at, 1922. flertal No. 539,266.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARDS. S'rnurson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, whereby the operative condition of the 100m is changed when the filling in the shuttle is substantially, though It not quite, exhausted.

Various types of feeler mechanism have been suggested for effecting replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle has reached a condition of substantial exhaustion; and of such types of feeler mechanism, that known as the side swipe, wherein the feeler moves longitudinally of the shuttle, has been found admirably adapted for the delicate operation and sensitiveness required in calling the change only when the filling has reached the desired degree of exhaustion.

'The object of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism of the side swipe type, wherein the feeler is supported normally in the position to enter the shuttle at right angles to the lay movement, or the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, to feel for the filling on each detecting beat; and when the filling has reached a condition of substantial exhaustion, an auxiliary finger is utilized to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure upon the auxiliary finger.

all While the feeler mechanism as hereinafter shown and described is peculiarly well adapted for use in connection with bobbins having the Weft or filling wound thereon, it may also be advantageously employed by 4&5 proper adjustment of the auxiliary finger, for use in connectionwith quills or cop tubes having the filling or weft wound thereon.

In addition to the above features of the present invention, other novel characteristics and combination of partswill be hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings at Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeler the shuttle.

that the feeler 7 shall take a position submechanism embodying the present invention and showlng only so much of the loom parts as are necessary to make clear to those skilled in the art the construction and mode of operation of the feeler mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the shut tle, showing the feeler entering the side of the shuttle to feel for the filling;

Fig. 3 1s a plan view showing the positlon and relation of parts when a working to supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat; and

Fig. 4: is a View similar to that of Fig. 3, showing the position of parts when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted 7o on a detecting beat.

As shown in the drawings, the feeler stand 1 is carried by a bracket Qadjustably secured to a convenient portion of the loom frame, and the stand is adjustable on the bracket 2 by means of thebolt 3 which passes through the slot 4 of the feeler stand. The feeler stand is provided with a rocking bearing 5 through Which extends the front end portion 6 of the feeler 7. The feeler stand has a rear bearin for the feeler disposed directly behind tfi e front bearing in such position that a vertical plane extending lengthwise along the longitudinal center of the feeler is at right angles to the axis on which the lay swings, and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, so that as the lay beats up on each detecting beat, the feeler will be moved directly frontwardly so long as a working supply of filling is present in 0 Tn the present instance the feeler stand 1 has upstanding portions 8 at its rear, between which is guided the slide 9, through which the feeler 7 extends, and which constitutes the rear bearing for the M feeler. The feeler stand has the feeler-setting cam 10 which engages a projection 11 carried by the feeler (Fig. 1) when the feeler moves to its rearward feeling position under the impulse of a spring 12 disposed between the bearing 5 and the bridge 13 to which the feeler. is secured, the effect being that as the spring 12 moves the feeler rearwardly to feeling position, the cam 10 serves to insure stantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle.

The bridge 13 has side portions 14, as shown, which rest upon ways 15 carried by the feeler stand, and the spring 12 is shown as bearing against the bridge 13 atone end and against the front bearing at its other end, to normally maintain the feeler in its feeling position.

The rear bearing or slide 9 is connected to autransmitter 16 which, through a tra n of mechanism of any usual and well-known type, effects replenishment of filling when the slide 9 is moved laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat.

To maintain the slide 9 in its proper position, between the projections 8 of the feeler stand, a cover plate 17 may be employed, and be secured to the stand by suitable securing means such as the screws 18.

The shuttle 19 is of the usual type and has its front wall slotted as at 20 for the entrance of the feeler. The shuttle in the present instance, is shown as carrying a bobbin 21 by the'usual bobbin-holding jaws 22, Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood, of

course, that the shuttle as indicated in Fig.

feeler, and constituting the engaging surface of the tip, while the end portions of the folded material are secured in the end of the feeler. This is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the feeler tip is formed of leather, and has the fold portion 23 extended beyond the end of the feeler 7 and the two end portions 24 of the leather inserted in a slot formed transversely of the feeler stand. From this construction the contacting end of the feeler constitutes a smooth and noninjurious surface against which the filling impact is taken during a detecting beat.

The feeler has mounted on it an auxiliary feeling finger which has an engaging surface at one side of the central longitudmal axis of the feeler and its engaging end is adapted to be encountered by a smooth surface carried by the layv when the filling is substantially exhausted, and to ride laterally "along such surface in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect a similar movement of the feeler due to the frontward pressure upon the auxiliary finger.

In the present instance the feeler is shown as having a lateral extension 25 in which is mounted a support 26 for supporting the auxiliary finger. As shown, the support 26 is secured to the extension 25 and has a threaded perforation through which extends the threaded stem 27 of the auxiliary finger cated end portion 30 of the auxiliary fin er,

the construction being such that the ro ler 29 may move alon the smooth surface carried by the lay an perforce move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

The side extension 25 on which the auxiliary finger is supported transversely forms a convenient construction, but the essential is that the engaging end of the auxiliary finger shall be to one side of the lon itudinal central axis of the feeler, so that the frontward pressure upon the auxiliary finger will effe t movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

Accuracy in operation requires that the feeler shall be responsive and sensitive either to the presence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle. Owing to the fact that the feeler is mounted to enter the shuttle at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, it will be moved frontwardly by the frontward pressure of a working supply of filling on a detecting beat without any tendency to move longitudinally of the shuttle. When, however, the filling is substantially exhausted, the feeler will enter further into the shuttle so that the engaging end or roller 29 of the auxiliary finger will engage the smooth surface on the lay, which may conveniently be the shuttle wall and, owing to the lateral position of the engaging end of the fin r relative to the longitudinal axis of the eeler, the engaging endof the finger will move along the smooth surface engaged by it and effect movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to initiate replenishment of filling through the transmitter as hereinbefore described.

What is claimed is 1. A feeler mechanism for looms, having a sidewise movable feeler with a filling engaging tip, front and rear guides disposed one directly behind the other so thatthe feeler is normally maintained in such position that a vertical plane extending lengthwise along its lon tudinal centre through the feeling end of t e feeler is at right angles to the axis on which the lay swings and to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, and an auxiliary feeling finger mounted I on the feeler frontward of the filling engaging tip and having an engaging portion at one side of thesaid longitudinal central plane of the feeler to be encountered by a smooth surface and be moved laterally thereof when the filling engaging tip does not make restraining contact with the filling.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

sea

ea-note combination of a feeler supported to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling on a de-' tecting beat, an auxiliary feeling finger rigidly mounted on the feeler and having an engaging end which is laterally set to one side of the feeler that frontward pressure against such off-set end will tend to cause movement of the feeler laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when frontward pressure of a surface against the offset end of the auxiliary finger effects such lateral movement of the feeler.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported to enter the shuttle at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on a detecting heat and feel for the filling and movable laterally when the filling is substantially exhausted, an auxiliary feel ing finger mounted on the feeler and having an engaging end comprising a roller at one side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler to be encountered by and move laterally along a smooth surface on the lay when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

l. A feeler mechanian for looms having a side slipping feeler with a filling engaging tip and mounted to enter the shuttle at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shutle on a detecting beat to feel for the filling, in combination with an auxiliary finger mounted on the feeler and having a roller at one side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler to be encountered by a surface on the lay and be moved laterally thereof due to the frontward pressure to effect side movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle all) when thefilling IS substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

5. Affeeler mechanism for looms, compr1smg, in combination, a feeler that is 1 mounted to enter the shuttle and feel for til the filling in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and to move laterally in a directionlongitudinally of the shuttle, an untoothed tip for engaging the filling with non-penetrating contact, an auxiliary finger mounted on the feeler and having an engaging tip ofif-set laterall' at one side of the feeler to be encountere by a smooth surface andto be moved'along the same due to the frontward pressure against the laterally off-set end of the auxiliary finger to effect movement of the feelerlongltu inally of the shuttle (when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detectin beat. I

t. A feeler mechanism for looms aving a side-wise movable feeler provided with a filling engaging tip and mounted to enter till the shuttle and feel for the filling at right angles tothe lay movement that frontward pressure of the filling on the feeler may impart no tendency of the feeler to side slip, in combination with an auxiliary feeling finger mounted on the feeler frontw-ard of the filling engaging tip and laterally ofi-set to one side of the longitudinal central axis of the feeler to be encountered by and be moved laterally upon a" smooth surface due to the impact thereof to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling engaging tip does not make restraining contact with the filling.

'7. A feeler mechanism for looms having a side-slipping feeler mounted to enter the shuttle at right angles to the lay movement that it may have no tendency to side slip due to frontward pressure of the filling and having a filling engaging tip in combination the shuttle at right angles to the lay movement, in combination with an auxiliary feeltill ing finger mounted on the feeler frontward of the fillingengaging tip and extending to one side of the longitudinal central axis of the feeler, and a roller carried b the auxiliary finger to be encountered vy and be moved laterally upon a smooth surface due l 7 to the impact thereof to efi'ect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling engaging tip does not make re straining contact with the filling.

, 9. ln a feeler mechanism for looms the combination of a feeler which enters the shuttle on each detecting beat and feels for the filling, an auxiliary feeler finger mounted on the feeler and off-set laterally to one side of the feeler to'be engaged by a smooth surface carried by the lay when the filling is a substantially exhausted, and by itsofi'set 'po- 'sition relative to the feeler to slide along said smooth surface and effect lateral movement of the feeler and replenishment of filling.

ln testimonyv whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

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